Increasing Your EV Charging Capacity Without Increasing Your Electricity Supply

With the UN climate report from 2018 stating that every half degree of extra global warming will affect hundreds of millions of people, we were given yet another proof that reducing our individual footprints is of crucial importance. In order to reach the goal of keeping global warming within 1.5C, emissions need to be cut by 45% by 2030. The overarching goal is to reach a level of zero-carbon emissions. 

One of the obvious measures to reduce carbon emissions is to replace fossil fueled energy with green energy. Each EV that replaces a fossil fueled car represent a step in the right direction.

Read also: The Reciprocity of Intelligent Energy Management for Utilities and Commercial Building Owners

There are two main concerns about installing EV chargers are the lack of predictability from galloping technology development, and operating costs. Even though swift progress can be beneficial, it can also raise a doubt whether the technology we invest in today will endure.   

Most of the widespread perceptions of which challenges come with EV chargers can be avoided if proper mapping is carried out in advance. Having a service and maintenance contract in place will ensure that the system works as it should and that skilled personnel are available when needed. This incurs extra cost, but operating costs are modest when compared to total costs. 

If you already have an EV charging system and wish to expand capacity, the first step is to check if upgrading was considered at the time of the initial system and wiring installation.

The best overall tip to ensure you get a charging site that will neither be too expensive to operate nor outdated too quickly, is to consult experts and allow enough time to do a proper mapping of actual and future needs before making any decisions.

Contrary to what one might think, the right equipment is not the decisive factor. Focus on choosing the right supply and infrastructure for each specific system. A qualified supplier will insist on starting with a main supply cabinet and wiring that can easily be expanded. As long as this opportunity exists in a system, it will be able to keep up with whatever technical development comes.

Several providers offer EV charging as a leasing service. There are different business models to choose from, but usually the installation costs fall on the provider, while you manage the operating costs. As soon as the system is up and running, you can start using a payment solution where each EV owner pays for their electricity consumption. This income goes back to the operator of the charging site, providing an opportunity to start down payment immediately.

The advantage of leasing is the chance to delegate as much of the responsibility as you prefer. The installer can control both the installation, operating and technical support. It is worth noticing that if you decide to hand it all over to a provider, they will probably be eligible to keep most of the income from the charging service.

According to extensive research, managing the charging through smart tools and introducing storage capacity are the most effective measures for reducing power requirements.

This thesis mentions a project testing software that provides an overview and the possibility to manage energy resources using predictions. The results are clear: Optimizing (managing charging) is preferable to energy management based on set rules, with the software providing 43 per cent saved capacity, compared to 24 per cent when following the rule-based approach.

Your EV charger can communicate with the power grid operator’s smart meter and activate charging when the grid is less strained and electricity is cheaper. There are several alternatives when looking at systems and management tools to help utilize the electricity that already exists in a system. The premise setting idea is to reduce or equalize electricity consumption, which will be favorable both to the environment and your bottom line.

Read also: Collective Electricity Management: An Easy, Green-Efficiency Tool

By installing the chargers in one larger station with a common access point from the same monitoring point and electricity supply, you can gather data from the entire system. Data from the chargers can be used to optimize maintenance and reduce repair and downtime. A good management tool is important to optimize the use of the existing electricity capacity.

EV charging can be a source of income in commercial buildings as well as for housing cooperatives. The cost base is effect and electricity. As long as you are in control of that and electricity consumption can be managed within the frames given by the consumers, selling your electricity surplus back to the power grid operators is a potential source of income here as well. This reduces the overall operating resource demand.

A survey carried out among Norwegian EV drivers shows that this group understands and accepts the costs that come with EV charging opportunity. We consider this to be good news knowing that payment for charging can finance the continued operations of charging stations. EV drivers show greater faith in charging stations where they have to pay for charging, as this usually means the station is accessible and well maintained. Predictability and availability are essential features to an EV driver.

An EV charging station is probably just one of many devices in your overall internal electricity system. One way of coordinating and integrating all your components in one system is investing in a top system. This is based on artificial intelligence as well as when fed data from all your electricity demanding components can create predictions for how to best utilize your existing electricity supply.

As the service provider, you should make sure you sign a service contract, which will ensure that maintenance and service is under control. Consequently, EV drivers will return to make use of your stable charging offer; traffic that will generate a certain stability and income.  

The most important thing about developing a tender package is to communicate the real needs that have to be met. The exact charging need should make up the basis for all assessments by equipment or service providers. Keep it as simple as possible, and make sure it is adequate. Focus on communicating the essential functionality or service clearly, as this will allow you to give the provider a free scope in presenting alternative solutions. The more comprehensive your mapping ahead of time has been, the more specifically you can communicate the actual needs. 

Don’t be afraid to express the importance of focusing on an energy sufficient and environmentally conscious approach in the planning stages of the project.